Some 19.5 million Sudanese people, or more than 40% of the population, ‌are facing acute hunger, according to a report by a global hunger monitor, Reuters reported.

The spread of hunger and famine has become a hallmark of the three-year-old war in Sudan, which is estimated to have killed hundreds of thousands of people as well as devastating the economy and agriculture and displacing 14 million.

The estimate by the ⁠U.N.-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is slightly lower than last fall’s of 21.2 million people, but some 14 areas in the country’s North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan states remain at risk of famine, where 135,000 people face “catastrophic” levels of hunger.

“Ongoing hostilities – especially around major supply routes, such as El Obeid in North Kordofan – and the possibility of renewed siege‑like conditions continue to heighten risks,” the ⁠IPC said in a statement.

Iraqi officials have approached the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance amid the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a source close to the IMF told Reuters.

According to the source, preliminary discussions took place last month in Washington during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings. Talks are currently continuing over how much financing Iraq will require and under what conditions the loan could be granted.

The war against Iran launched by the United States and Israel on February 28 has dealt a major blow to the entire region. Iraq has been particularly affected by the developments, as much of the country’s oil exports – the main source of state revenue – have been reduced due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.

Armenia moved on Thursday to introduce a framework of internationally applicable cybersecurity standards, setting requirements for critical information infrastructure operators, cybersecurity service providers, and auditors.

The bill on establishing a list of internationally applicable cybersecurity standards was approved at a Cabinet meeting.

First Deputy Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia, Gevorg Mantashyan, briefed Cabinet members on the regulations.

He said that the Cybersecurity Law adopted by parliament last year was a key achievement and an important step toward strengthening digital security and cybersecurity.

He said several by-laws are now required.

“With this decision, we are defining international standards for critical information infrastructures operating in vital sectors, deriving from the law,” he noted.

According to Mantashyan, the decision also sets requirements for cybersecurity service providers.

“Since there are, and can be, providers of services for critical infrastructures, we are also setting requirements for cybersecurity service providers, specifically the standards they must comply with, as well as requirements for auditors in case these systems undergo audits,” he said.

The First Deputy Minister noted that, in the context of the widespread use of digital tools, risks are also increasing, and the government initiative is aimed at raising the overall level of security.

“I will not reveal a secret by saying that digital tools are becoming more widespread in our lives, and they can carry more risks. We believe this is a very necessary action at the moment. It will also bring certain costs for businesses, but we consider it an investment in our overall security,” Mantashyan said.

According to him, discussions on the bill were previously held with the participation of representatives of the private sector and companies from vital sectors.

“This will not come as a surprise, because the law was discussed three times on e-draft [online public debate platform], and at different times it was discussed with the private sector and specifically with companies from vital sectors. We believe that with this we are fixing the minimum standard that everyone must meet,” he said.

Mantashyan also noted that various companies are already using certain solutions and standards, but the lack of a unified approach in the sector can create vulnerabilities.

The Bright Armenia Party has pledged to push for caps on bank loan interest rates if it secures seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections, with party leader Edmon Marukyan arguing that commercial banks in Armenia are generating excessive profits.

During a campaign event in Yerevan outside the Central Bank headquarters, Marukyan, a former ambassador-at-large and former lawmaker, called for tighter regulation of the financial sector, as well as measures to prevent conflicts of interest and address fraudulent lending practices.

According to Marukyan, over the past five years, no steps have been taken to implement regulations on high interest rates.

“In the last five years, we have had a situation in which Armenia’s banking sector has simply generated super-profits,” Marukyan said.

He said the Central Bank lends money to commercial banks at an average rate of 6.7 percent, after which those banks issue loans to citizens at rates ranging from 16 to 20 percent.

“We are asking the people to give us the opportunity so that after the June 7 elections, in the newly formed parliament, we can work to limit the ceiling on loan interest rates in Armenia,” Marukyan said.

He further proposed introducing a restriction under which individuals with experience in the Central Bank or Armenia’s financial sector would be barred for several years after leaving their positions from working in private commercial banks, in order to prevent the use of public-sector expertise in favor of private interests.

Marukyan also spoke about the need to tackle fraudsters who take out loans in unsuspecting citizens’ names.

The Bright Armenia Party is among the 19 political forces running for parliament in the June 7 election.

Armenia’s industrial production rose 13.4% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026 to 748.8 billion drams, driven by strong growth in mining and quarrying and moderate gains in manufacturing and utilities, according to the Statistical Committee.

In March, industrial production declined by 2% compared to February but rose by 7% year-on-year. Industrial output in March amounted to 256 billion 521.4 million drams at current prices.

Mining and quarrying accounted for 60 billion 969.5 million drams of the March total. In the first quarter, output in the sector increased by 36.8% year-on-year to 163 billion 889.9 million drams. In March, production rose by 17.7% month-on-month and by 28% year-on-year.

Manufacturing output increased by 9.5% year-on-year in the first quarter to 458 billion 410.6 million drams. In March, output fell by 9.6% from February but rose by 1.3% from a year earlier, amounting to 155 billion 815.5 million drams.

Electricity, gas, steam, and air supply rose 7% in the first quarter to 118 billion 171.7 million drams, including 37 billion 172.5 million drams in March. Output increased 6% month-on-month and 7.9% year-on-year in March.

Water supply, sewerage, waste management, and recycling grew 4.1% year-on-year in the first quarter to 7 billion 528.6 million drams, including 2 billion 563.9 million drams in March. The sector rose 4.2% month-on-month and 2.9% year-on-year in March.

Armenia will send aid to Lebanon to help the country amid the humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing hostilities.

The decision to send humanitarian assistance, consisting of food and medicines, was approved at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Armenia plans to provide targeted humanitarian assistance by ensuring the supply of essential food and sanitary and hygienic goods, as well as medicines, needed to meet the basic needs of the affected population.

The list of necessary items was presented to the Cabinet by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

AMD 60 million was allocated from the reserve fund to purchase the supplies.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan asserted on Thursday that the parliamentary elections to be held in Armenia on June 7 do not have a geopolitical context.

Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing amid a campaign event for his Civil Contract party whether he sees any attempts at foreign interference targeting the elections. 

Reporters also asked whether recent statements by some Russian politicians calling on the Kremlin not to recognize the election results if Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party wins constitute foreign interference.

“Both the political forces participating in the process, as well as commentators and forces outside Armenia, see a geopolitical subtext in these elections. These elections do not have a geopolitical subtext or context, nor can they have one for a simple reason: the Republic of Armenia has adopted a balanced and balancing policy. There is no conspiracy or hostile intent in our policies,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister added that Armenia and the Armenian people must always have an alternative.

“There is the European Union, there is the Eurasian Economic Union. Our people must have the opportunity to decide which strategy is the most promising and beneficial for them,” Pashinyan noted.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday accused second President Robert Kocharyan of orchestrating the deadly post-election crackdown on protesters during the final days of his presidency in 2008.

Speaking at a press briefing amid a campaign event for his Civil Contract party, Pashinyan said that all the facts regarding the events of March 1, 2008, are available and that those responsible must be held accountable.

A criminal investigation into the deadly post-election unrest in Yerevan in 2008 is still ongoing. Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan had rallied supporters in Yerevan against what he described as rigged elections that declared Serzh Sargsyan president-elect. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed during mass disturbances and clashes between demonstrators and security forces on March 1, 2008, during the final days of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency.

“We now have a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights clearly stating that what happened on March 1, 2008, was organized by the state, and this must receive a response,” the Prime Minister said, referring to the 2025 ruling by the European court, which found that the authorities violated the victims’ “right to life” guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The ECHR ruled on a lawsuit filed in 2011 by the families of eight protesters, as well as Interior Troops conscript Tigran Abgaryan, who was killed during the unrest. 

According to Pashinyan, there are public expectations that those responsible in the case should be held accountable.

“People are demanding answers from me, and there is a misconception among the public that, as part of backstage agreements, I am granting indulgences to Robert Kocharyan and Gagik Tsarukyan. I am saying that justice must prevail,” Pashinyan noted.

The Prime Minister emphasized that in cases where he has personal involvement, he tries to act with extra caution. In 2008, Pashinyan campaigned in support of Ter-Petrosyan, was arrested a year later, and was subsequently convicted in connection with the unrest. In 2022, a court absolved Pashinyan of all responsibility related to the deadly unrest.

“In situations where I personally have any connection whatsoever, I try two, three, and four times harder not to be active,” he said.

“Nevertheless, the political responsibility remains on me, and now there is a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, and that ruling must be addressed,” he added.

According to Pashinyan, the March 1 case has been solved.

“Those responsible must be punished. March 1 has been solved because all the materials and all the facts are in the criminal case file, and it is clear that March 1 was an event organized by Robert Kocharyan. And he must answer for it, unequivocally,” the Prime Minister stated.

Robert Kocharyan has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he is not concerned that Russia’s new law allowing the use of its military abroad to “protect” arrested Russian citizens could be applied in Armenia.

He stressed that the Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri operates under Armenian law and jurisdiction, regardless of Russian domestic legislation.

Pashinyan was asked at a press briefing whether he was concerned about the law passed by the Russian State Duma, which grants the Russian president the authority to use the Russian military abroad to protect Russian citizens if they are arrested or prosecuted by foreign courts whose jurisdiction Moscow does not recognize.

“There is no concern, because regardless of what laws operate in Russia, the 102nd military base must operate within the framework of Armenian law and under Armenia’s jurisdiction,” Pashinyan said.

The Russian law is aimed at “unfriendly countries” and supplements existing provisions that allow the Russian president to deploy troops in cases where Russia’s interests are threatened.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that vote-buying can no longer determine election results in Armenia.

Speaking at a press briefing amid a campaign event for his Civil Contract party, Pashinyan was asked to comment on recent reports by law enforcement agencies of alleged vote-buying by certain political forces competing in the parliamentary elections.

“These developments are concerning, and we must seriously fight against vote-buying. Let me express my conviction that in Armenia it is no longer possible to determine outcomes through electoral bribery; at most, a few votes can be swayed,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan noted that law enforcement agencies, especially the Anti-Corruption Committee, are effectively combating electoral bribery.

Most of the recent alleged vote-buying cases reported by the Anti-Corruption Committee concern the “Strong Armenia” party.